START RAs Earn First Place in Global Health Business Case Competition

Buerk Center Global Innovation Fellows with the START Center, Marley Santos and Brian Conley, were members of the winning graduate student team for the 2nd Annual Global Health Business Case Competition.

On the evening of Jan 19, 2017, 29 teams were given a case co-authored by Dr. Debra Glassman and Jess Rush called, “Diarrheal Disease in Kenya; Addressing Post-Acute Mortality of Children Under the Age of Five.” Students were charged with assessing the costs and benefits of three approaches to solving the problem. The teams had to choose one of three options to pursue first: treating a greater number of children with antibiotics, providing additional follow-up care after initial treatment, or addressing malnutrition of children. Teams had to grapple with factors such as antimicrobial resistance; the shortage of health care facilities and workers in rural Kenya; the costs of, and access to, drugs, supplements, and food; and cultural and structural norms.

Students had 24 hours to do their research and create a presentation of their findings. The teams then presented their solutions to panels of judges representing the Seattle global health and business communities. Judges scored teams on their analysis, style, rational, and ability to handle the question and answer session. The two highest scoring undergraduate teams, as well as the two highest scoring graduate student teams were awarded prizes.
Story by Jessica Rush, MBA Global Programs, Global Business Center, Foster School of Business